Key facts
- Moderna's mRNA vaccine combined with Merck's Keytruda immunotherapy succeeded in a late-stage melanoma trial.
- The treatment met primary targets for reducing cancer recurrence and secondary goals for preventing spread.
- Moderna shares surged 60% in premarket trading.
- Merck shares climbed 7.5% before the market opened.
- The trial enrolled 1,137 high-risk patients with stage IIB-IV melanoma that had been surgically removed.
- No new safety signals have emerged in the trial.
Moderna's mRNA vaccine, in combination with Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda, has demonstrated success in a late-stage trial for treating melanoma, according to company statements on Wednesday. The interim results indicated that the treatment, known as Intismeran, met its primary objective of reducing cancer recurrence and its secondary objective of preventing the spread of cancer.
This development led to a significant surge in Moderna's stock, which climbed 60% in premarket trading, while Merck's shares also saw a notable increase of 7.5% before the market opened. The trial enrolled 1,137 high-risk patients with stage IIB-IV melanoma that had been surgically removed. Participants received up to nine doses of Keytruda combined with the personalized mRNA vaccine or Keytruda alone for approximately one year. The companies reported that no new safety concerns have arisen during the trial.
Earlier in January, results from a mid-stage trial indicated that the combination therapy reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49% after five years. Moderna has been actively working to diversify its product pipeline beyond its COVID-19 vaccine, having recently introduced an FDA-approved flu vaccine and developing experimental shots for other diseases like norovirus and Lyme disease. Analysts view the cancer vaccine data as a crucial catalyst that could bolster investor confidence. Barclays analysts projected that the therapy could generate approximately $3 billion in revenue for melanoma treatment by 2035.
Melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, affected over 1.5 million people in the U.S. in 2023. The companies plan to present their findings at an upcoming medical conference and submit them to regulatory authorities.